Whisk broom with squeegee

Abstract

A device having the ability to alternate between dry spill and wet spill clean-up by simply rotating the head of the device to either the bristle side, for dry material clean-up, or the rubber squeegee side for wet material clean-up. Located on the handle is a release button coupled to the rotatable coupling by which the head rotates about the handle. When this button is pulled or otherwise selectively activated (e.g., pushed, pressed, etc.) the head will now rotate freely allowing the user to alternate between dry and wet clean-up. In an embodiment, the head may be locked at a variety of angles for side sweeping applications such as inside a cabinet, on top of a work bench, etc.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A combination whisk broom and squeegee comprising:
 an elongate handle; and 
 a rotatable head rotatably attached to the handle, the head including a whisk broom end with a plurality of whisk broom bristles at one end of the head, the head further including a squeegee end at an end opposite the whisk broom end such that the whisk broom end may be used to sweep up dry spills and the squeegee end may be used to clean up wet spills; 
 wherein the head is rotatably coupled to the handle, the head being selectively rotatable and lockable in a desired orientation relative to the handle so as to orient the whisk broom end or the squeegee end in a desired locked orientation for use thereof; and 
 a release button disposed on or within the handle and coupled to the coupling of the head to the handle for selectively releasing and selectively locking the rotatable head in a desired orientation relative to the handle; 
 wherein the coupling between the head and the handle comprises a notched rearwardly extending cylinder within the head that mates within a correspondingly shaped cylindrical recess disposed within the handle. 
 
     
     
       2. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the release button is configured to slide within the handle, a first position of the release button corresponding to the head being locked in a given orientation relative to the handle, while a second position of the release button corresponds to the head being freely rotatable about the coupling to the handle. 
     
     
       3. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the squeegee end comprises a rubber or elastomeric squeegee edge overmolded over the head. 
     
     
       4. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of whisk broom bristles are press-fit into the whisk broom end of the head. 
     
     
       5. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling between the head and the handle comprises a configuration in which the notched rearwardly extending cylinder snap fits within the corresponding shaped cylindrical recess of the handle. 
     
     
       6. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the release button is coupled to the coupling by an elongate locking pin which extends down the handle, the distal end of the locking pin including a distal pin end which selectively engages within a given notch of the notched rearwardly extending cylinder of the head. 
     
     
       7. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the elongate locking pin further comprises a spring retention protrusion at its bottom end, adjacent the distal pin end. 
     
     
       8. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the handle terminates at its bottom end in an enlarged cylinder shape, the cylinder extending forwardly, towards the head, the cylinder shape of the handle being hollow and including a sidewall defining the cylindrical recess which mates with the corresponding notched cylinder of the head. 
     
     
       9. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a cap that fits over an open front end of coupling structure of the head. 
     
     
       10. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the notches are disposed at least every 90° in the circumference of the rearwardly extending cylinder of the head. 
     
     
       11. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the notches are disposed at least every 45° in the circumference of the rearwardly extending cylinder of the head. 
     
     
       12. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the release button is coupled to the coupling by an elongate locking pin which extends down the handle, wherein the handle includes front and rear portions fastened together, wherein the locking pin is spring loaded within the handle so that the release button is biased to a position corresponding to one where the head is locked against rotation relative to the handle. 
     
     
       13. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the locking pin is manually accessible through a window cut-out in the front of the handle. 
     
     
       14. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the release button and the elongate locking pin comprise an injection molded single part. 
     
     
       15. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the release button comprises a finger recess which allows a user to easily pull the button upwards. 
     
     
       16. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a top portion of the handle further includes an overmolded rubber or other elastomeric material to increase tactile feel and grip for a user. 
     
     
       17. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a dustpan including a dustpan handle, the dustpan handle being hollow and correspondingly shaped and sized to receive the handle of the combination whisk broom and squeegee therein when the broom handle is pressed into the dustpan handle. 
     
     
       18. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the dustpan further comprises an integrated retention dam in a bottom interior surface thereof to help retain debris placed inside the dustpan. 
     
     
       19. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 17 , wherein a leading edge of the dustpan further comprises an overmolded or other elastomeric material edge to help seal the dustpan to the floor during use. 
     
     
       20. The combination whisk broom and squeegee as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the dustpan handle and the handle of the combination whisk broom and squeegee each further comprise aligned eyelet hanging holes for hanging the combination whisk broom and squeegee when coupled with the dustpan on a hook.